3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Distinguish  \Dis*tin"guish\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p. 
  {Distinguished};  p.  pr  &  vb  n.  {Distinguishing}.]  [F. 
  distinguer  L.  distinguere  distinctum  di-  =  dis-  + 
  stinguere  to  quench,  extinguish;  prob.  orig.,  to  prick,  and 
  so  akin  to  G.  stechen,  E.  stick,  and  perh.  sting.  Cf 
  {Extinguish}.] 
  1.  Not  set  apart  from  others  by  visible  marks;  to  make 
  distinctive  or  discernible  by  exhibiting  differences;  to 
  mark  off  by  some  characteristic. 
 
  Not  more  distinguished  by  her  purple  vest,  Than  by 
  the  charming  features  of  her  face.  --Dryden. 
 
  Milton  has  distinguished  the  sweetbrier  and  the 
  eglantine.  --Nares. 
 
  2.  To  separate  by  definition  of  terms  or  logical  division  of 
  a  subject  with  regard  to  difference;  as  to  distinguish 
  sounds  into  high  and  low 
 
  Moses  distinguished  the  causes  of  the  flood  into 
  those  that  belong  to  the  heavens,  and  those  that 
  belong  to  the  earth.  --T.  Burnet. 
 
  3.  To  recognize  or  discern  by  marks,  signs,  or  characteristic 
  quality  or  qualities;  to  know  and  discriminate  anything 
  from  other  things  with  which  it  might  be  confounded;  as 
  to  distinguish  the  sound  of  a  drum. 
 
  We  are  enabled  to  distinguish  good  from  evil,  as 
  well  as  truth  from  falsehood.  --Watts. 
 
  Nor  more  can  you  distinguish  of  a  man,  Than  of  his 
  outward  show  --Shak. 
 
  4.  To  constitute  a  difference;  to  make  to  differ. 
 
  Who  distinguisheth  thee?  --1  Cor.  iv 
  7.  (Douay 
  version). 
 
  5.  To  separate  from  others  by  a  mark  of  honor;  to  make 
  eminent  or  known  to  confer  distinction  upon  --  with  by 
  or  for.``To  distinguish  themselves  by  means  never  tried 
  before.''  --Johnson. 
 
  Syn:  To  mark;  discriminate;  differentiate;  characterize; 
  discern;  perceive;  signalize;  honor;  glorify. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Distinguish  \Dis*tin"guish\,  v.  i. 
  1.  To  make  distinctions;  to  perceive  the  difference;  to 
  exercise  discrimination;  --  with  between;  as  a  judge 
  distinguishes  between  cases  apparently  similar,  but 
  differing  in  principle. 
 
  2.  To  become  distinguished  or  distinctive;  to  make  one's  self 
  or  itself  discernible.  [R.] 
 
  The  little  embryo  .  .  .  first  distinguishes  into  a 
  little  knot.  --Jer.  Taylor. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  distinguish 
  v  1:  mark  as  different;  "We  distinguish  several  kinds  of  maple" 
  [syn:  {separate},  {differentiate},  {secern},  {secernate}, 
  {severalize},  {tell},  {tell  apart}] 
  2:  detect  with  the  senses  "The  fleeing  convicts  were  picked 
  out  of  the  darkness  by  the  watchful  prison  guards";  "I 
  can't  make  out  the  faces  in  this  photograph"  [syn:  {recognize}, 
  {discern},  {pick  out},  {make  out},  {tell  apart}] 
  3:  be  a  distinctive  feature,  attribute,  or  trait;  sometimes  in 
  a  very  positive  sense  [syn:  {mark},  {differentiate}] 
  4:  make  conspicuous  [syn:  {signalize}] 
  5:  as  in  in  botany  or  biology,  for  example  [syn:  {identify},  {discover}, 
  {key},  {key  out},  {describe},  {name}] 

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